PHF to bid for Olympic qualifying events

Lahore, June 13 (UNI) Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will bid for one of the qualifying events for 2008 Beijing Olympics, which will get underway next year.

''We want to make sure that Pakistan hosts maximum possible international hockey matches which is why the PHF would be featuring in the bidding process for the Olympic Qualifiers,'' PHF secretary Brig (retd) Musarrat Ullah Khan told 'The News'.

The qualifiers events -- three men's and three women's -- will start from November next year and will be held till April in 2008.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has already sent the bid documents to interested nations.

August 25 has been set as the last date to submit the bid and a final decision on the hosts will be taken by the end of this year.

''Our aim is to bring international hockey to Pakistan. We would prefer Pakistan to qualify for the Olympics directly and if that happens, then we would be too happy to host the other participating teams in the Olympic Qualifiers,'' the PHF secretary said.

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